As a Norfolk State student, Brehanna Daniels majored in mass communications and had designs on a career in entertainment.

Daniels, who played basketball at Norfolk State from 2014-16, will take another step in that direction as a contestant on Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's NBC reality physical competition series "The Titan Games," which premieres Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

"The Titan Games" features everyday people from across the country competing in a series of endurance-based mental and physical challenges, similar to the old show "The American Gladiators." If successful, competitors will become a member of the group of "Titans," who will have to defend their title every week against new competitors in order to remain in the group and have a shot at a $100,000 grand prize.

Fame, and competition, isn't new to Daniels. For the last three years, she has worked as a tire changer on pit crews at various levels of professional auto racing. In July, she became the first African-American female to work on a pit crew for a race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the sport's top level.

Daniels, a Virginia Beach, Va., native, played in 54 games over her two years at Norfolk State before trying out for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity pit crew combine following her senior year. Based on her performance at the combine, Daniels was selected to participate in the Drive for Diversity program and has progressed through the car racing circuit as an independent tire changer.